2nd Lt. Willie Cone
344th Bomb Group, 494th Bomb Squadron
In Loving Memory
Willie F. Cone
Bombardier/Navigator
344th Bomb Group, 494th Squadron
My father grew up in Nixon, Texas and enlisted at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in Nov. 1941 at the age of 25. He flew 60 missions in the European theater from June 1, 1944 to March 23, 1945 as a B26 bombardier/navigator and was awarded the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters. On returning to the States in 1945 he entered the Air Force Reserves and trained as an air traffic controller, and being called up again served during the Berlin airlift and also in the Korean Conflict. After Korea he left the Air Force as a Captain and did air traffic control for the CAA, and then the FAA, until his retirement in 1971. He passed away Dec. 31, 1984. Here are some photos from that time. Only a few are labeled, and we hope that someone might identify some of the guys for us. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone so long. We wish we had asked him more questions! –Martha Cone
Below are the formation diagram and load list for a mission 2nd Lt. Cone took part in on June 20, 1944. It was the second mission of the day for the bomb group.
The target was a launch site for V-1 or Buzz-Bombs near Hesdin, France. He flew in plane K9-J (probably Ecstacy III). He flew in position 1-3-2 piloted by 2nd Lt. Peters.
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